Ann Arbor, MI – In a new whiteboard video, Michael S. Barr, Dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at The University of Michigan, discusses consumer protection for small businesses in the U.S. He explains the challenges small businesses face with access to capital and predatory online lenders. Barr then outlines policy proposals for small business protection. Business Forward’s Solutions 2020 Small Business Policy Working Group, led by Barr and former Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Association, Marie Johns, will discuss these issues and proposals in a conference call on Tuesday, July 16.

This conference call is open to press. Please contact Jana Plat if you have any questions at JPlat@BusinessFwd.org or (202) 861-1270.

WHAT: Solutions 2020 conference call: Small Business Policy

WHO: Michael S. Barr, Dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and Former Assistant Secretary of Treasury
Marie Johns, CEO PPC – Leftwich, LLC and Former Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Association

About Solutions 2020
Solutions 2020 is a Business Forward initiative pairing leading policy experts with local business leaders from around the country to outline challenges facing our country and develop real-world policy solutions to share with the 2020 presidential candidates. Six presidential candidates—Senators Harris, Booker, and Klobuchar; Mayor Buttigieg; and Congressmen Delaney and Moulton—have already participated in briefings with other candidates to follow. As part of the Solutions 2020 programming, we are building working groups on a range of policy areas and producing issue briefs for the presidential campaigns and for local business leaders to use to advocate on issues in their home cities and states. Published issue briefs to date include Future of Work, Foreign Policy, Higher Education, and Infrastructure.

About The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
The Ford School at the University of Michigan is America’s first graduate public service training program and among its most prominent. We’re making a real and lasting difference in the world through game-changing discoveries; actionable policy solutions; rigorous, applied courses; and our powerful and growing network of alumni. A community dedicated to the public good, we inspire and prepare diverse leaders grounded in service, conduct transformational research, and collaborate on evidence-based policymaking to take on our communities’ and our world’s most pressing challenges.